Lock for gas-keys.



(No Model.)

Patented Sept. l9, I899. H. A. STUART.

LOCK. F on GAS KEYS.

'(Applicatidn filed June 28, 18 99.)

WITNESSES lNVE/VTB I O a UNTTED STATES PATENT Orrtce.

HENRY A. STUART, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

LOOK FOR GAS-KEYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,400, dated September 19, 1899.

Application filed June 28, 1899. Serial No. 722,180. (No model.)

1'0 all who/1'1, [0' may concern.

Be it known that l, HENRY A. STUART, of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Lock for Gas Keys, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improveu'ient in devices for automatically locking gas-keys so that they cannot be accidentally turned, so as to allow the gas to flow.

Myinvention comprises the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of myinvention applied to a gas-key. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken upon the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. is a partial side elevation of a gas-cock, showing the key turned so as to permit the passage of gas; and Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views showingtwo slightly-differii'ig forms of my device detached from the key.

Although my device will be herein described as applied to gas-keys, it is evident that it may be applied to any kind of a plug, cook, or valve, whet-her used for controlling gas or other fluids.

In Fig. 1 is shown an ordinary gas-fixture containing the key or cook by which the tlow of gas is controlled. 'lhe-casingAis adapted to receive a valve B, said valve being provided with a flattened key B, by means of which it is readily engaged to turn the valve.

The casing is also provided with two shoulnumbered 1) is inserted within the hole ordinarily occupied by the stop-pin. The wire is then bent downwardly and upwardly, forming a loop 2, which lies alongside of the key.

The

outer arm of this loop extends upwardly and bears against the side of the plug 13 at a point opposite where the end 1. is attached to said plug. The wire from thence extends downwardly alongside of the key, forming an arm 4, the lower end of which is bent in the form of a loop or finger-piece 5, by which it may be engaged to pull downward the free end of the loop. The upper or free end of the loop 3 bears against the plug at a point opposite the end 1 and is adapted to engage one of the shoulders Cupon the casing A. While the end 1 engages one of these shoulders and prevents overturning of the valve the end 3 engages the other shoulder and prevents the valve from being opened by accidental contact with any object. It cannot be opened until the end 3 has been pulled downward, so as to free it from the shoulder C. This may be done by engaging the finger-piece 5 and exerting a slight downward pressure thereon, which may be easily done at the same time the key is engaged to turn it. By the use of this device gas-keys will be rendered entirely safe and prevent any possibility of their becoming accidentally opened, and thus allow gas to escape. The locking is done automatically, as when the cock is closed in the ordinary manner by turning the key 13 the end of the loop 3 engages one of the shoulders C.

A slight variation in form of my device is shown in Fig. 5. It is the same as that shown in Fig. 4, with the exception that a coil 6 is formed at the lower end of the loop 2, giving the device a little more spring.

It is evident that the exact shape of this device may be varied. The essential point thereof is the spring-held arm terminating at 3 and adapted to engage one of the shoulders O at the same time that the stop-pin or its substitute engages the other shoulder and the finger-piece 5 attached, by which it may be readily engaged to free the key.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentv 1. A lock for gas-keys and similar cocks,

comprising a valve-casing having stops or against the opposite side of the cook, the two ends being adapted to engage opposite shoulders upon the casing to hold the key closed, substantially as described.

2. A lock for gaskeys,comprising a springwire having one end entering the key and serving as a stop, said spring extending downward and then upward in a loop, said loop being adapted to bear upon the key opposite the point of attachment of the wire to the key, substantially as described.

3. A look for gas-keys,com prising a springwire havingone end entering the keyand serving as a stop, said spring extending downward and then upward in a loop, said loop being adapted to bear upon the key opposite the point of attachment of the wire to the key, and a handle or finger-piece secured to said spring-Wire,whereby its free end may be freed may be disengaged from its stop, substan-- tially as described.

HENRY A. STUART.

Witnesses:

H. L. REYNOLDS, EVERARD BOLTON MARSHALL. 

